As a courtesy to our SHPOA Members, we’re bringing you a summary of each Stone Harbor Work Session and Council Meeting. Intended as summaries, these intentionally don’t have a lot of details and are not a substitute for the official Borough minutes.
Work Session Reports
Administration and Finance
Council introduced the 2026 budget of $23 million in general appropriations. The tax rate is expected to increase 4.33 percent to .350 per $100 of assessed value. Audio of this section of the meeting was not recorded; however, the budget can be found by clicking this link. A public hearing on the budget is scheduled for May 5.
 
Public Works
Councilmember Bob Ross presented a status report on several projects:
•Signage was installed on 95th and 97th Streets to remind bicyclists that they are one-way streets.
•Prep work was completed for bulkhead cap repairs at the marina (repairing damage from the storm).
•The borough hall flagpole was painted and the Waterworks building was repaired and painted. Tree debris from the storm was removed.
•The department processed 46.09 tons of solid waste and 13.01 tons of recycling.
Later in the meeting, the councilmember noted that the borough will be rolling back parking fees to $2 (it has not yet been implemented). They will also be fine-tuning the zoning in Park Mobile for the free parking lots.
 
Utilities
Councilmember Frank Vaul reported:
•The Department of Water and Sewer is reviewing and updating their budget and billing process. Last year, the committee reviewed how rates are set. 2026 will see the next step for transparency and sustainability, including exploring electronic meters and modifying the process to cover capital costs. 
•The anticipated rate increase is $100 per quarter in FY 2026. There could be a set rate per 100 gallons of water used and a different rate for 100 gallons of sewage. There is currently an excess use charge, which the committee is trying to eliminate. The committee wants to give residents online access to usage. They estimate that about half of households may see an increase in water and sewer costs, about half may see a decrease. The committee is aiming for a fair and easy way to understand process, reflective of true costs.
•The department’s FY2026 budget is $6 million, a 4.6% increase from 2025. The increase is mostly due to fees, staff salaries, and benefits. There has also been an increase in capital expenditures for current and future projects.
Engineer Marc DeBlasio’s report on capital projects:
•96th Street recreation complex – construction is completed and it should be open for Memorial Day.
•Reconstruction of 121st Street – piping is complete and they are working on concrete. It should be open for summer.
•Jake’s Place Playground – demolition is complete and they are currently installing footings and sanitation.
•Pickleball courts –They are also resurfacing the existing courts. Once the surface is cured, they will be painted. They should be open for Memorial Day.
Regular Meeting
Public Comment
A representative of the Chamber of Commerce commented on parking costs, saying it is hearing concerns about the upcoming season from business owners around the price of gas, the price of products, and hotel taxes. They asked the council to table the decision to add Park Mobile to the free lots for this season. They noted that the free lots are good for customers and for staff, and for churches whose parishioners use them on Sundays.
 
Resolutions
Resolutions were approved to introduce the municipal budget and certify that the borough is in compliance with federal guidelines around the use of arrest and conviction records in employment decisions.
 
To view a video of the meeting, please click:
 
NOTE: As you may know, our friends at the Cape May County Herald are offering SHPOA members only an exclusive discount for Herald subscriptions — 25% OFF with code “SHPOA” — and they are also providing your association advertising space in print and online for us to promote the association and the initiatives important to our members.
 
To subscribe and use the discount, please click on https://capemaycountyherald.com/subscribe/ and use promo code “SHPOA” at checkout to claim your 25% discount. Only valid for new subscribers.
To read past Stone Harbor Council Meeting summaries, please click here: https://www.stoneharborpoa.org/category/borough-meeting-summaries/
 
To watch recordings of past meetings, please click here: https://stoneharbornj.org/agendameetings/watch-mayor-and-council-meetings-online/